My Pichta Nordmann Christmas Tree Review: A Beautiful but Imperfect Choice

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I decided to take a break from my usual topics and write about one of the main decorations of the holiday season - the Christmas tree. Each year, I'd opt for an artificial tree, but this year, my family and I decided to get a live tree, and we chose the Nordmann Fir. The Nordmann Fir is one of the most popular Christmas tree species in Europe, particularly in Denmark, where it's the largest exporter. An estimated 100 million trees are grown, with 5 million being exported annually. In Germany, around 27 million trees are sold each year. I picked the Nordmann Fir for its stunning appearance. In my opinion, it looks more impressive than spruces and firs. The Nordmann Fir has a smoother, fluffier texture, so you don't have to worry about finding ways to cover up bare spots, which often happens with spruces. Even without decorations, the Nordmann Fir looks beautiful. We bought our tree a few days before Christmas at a local hypermarket, where all the trees were lined up and wrapped in special netting. The only downside was that we couldn't get a good look at the actual tree, as it was squished by the netting. The price ranged from 2,000 to 2,500 rubles, depending on the height of the tree. To be honest, the price is a bit steep, especially when compared to the same height spruce, which costs around 300 rubles per meter. The Nordmann Fir is sold without stands. We immediately placed the tree in a small pot with sand as soon as we got it home. The Nordmann Fir is significantly different from spruces and firs, both in appearance and in everything else. Its needles are extremely soft and almost impossible to prick yourself with. The Nordmann Fir has a distinct scent, but it's very subtle and different from the scent of a spruce. If you're planning to get a live Christmas tree specifically for the aroma, the Nordmann Fir might not be your best option. When we first brought the tree home and removed the protective netting, the branches of the Nordmann Fir were a bit bent and folded towards the top. However, within a few hours, the tree began to unfold, and we saw just how fluffy it was. I chose a smaller tree, about 130cm tall, but it ended up being incredibly full and voluminous. The only minor downside was that it was clear the Nordmann Fir was missing a few branches at the upper base. The trunk is also covered in tiny needles. The needles are all uniform, straight, and a lovely green. Decorating the Nordmann fir was a breeze! To be honest, the tree looks stunning on its own, so it's even beautiful with a minimal number of ornaments. The photos speak for themselves. The Nordmann fir has become our family's new favorite, and it's the center of attention for all our guests, who've been giving us non-stop compliments. Our Christmas tree was the star of the show on Christmas Eve, and it's still the main attraction in our living room. I chose ornaments in soft, muted tones: pale pink, white, and gold balls, and various other shapes. We also added some single-tone gold fairy lights to complete the look. Thanks to the tree's long, straight branches, it was a piece of cake to hang the ornaments, and they stayed put without any issues. I've gotta say, overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! But, I've said it before, the tree itself is pretty self-sufficient. As soon as I put the Nordman Fir in the house, it instantly felt cozy and festive. The Nordman Fir has been standing with us for 12 days now, and I plan to take it down immediately after Christmas. In the end, it's lost only one tone of its original color, and the needles do shed, but that's to be expected. I watered it with 1 liter of water a day after. Since it's standing on the floor without a carpet, it's not a big deal to clean up the needles. If you're unsure whether to buy a Nordman Fir or not, my answer is a definite yes! It's worth every penny, and the joy it brought to my whole family is priceless! However, as I mentioned earlier, it's worth noting that the Nordman Fir doesn't have a strong scent.